Floor-jack.



2.1. SPENCER.

FLOOR JACK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I9. 1917.

hmw mfim Patented ]Dec. 11,1917.

attowwgf IIITEM CHARLES! J. SPENCER, 0F OSCEOLA, IOWk FLOOR-JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. II, IWI't.

Application filed September 19, 1917. Serial No. 192,126.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEY J. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola, in the county of Clarke, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F loor-J acks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in floor jacks.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device of this character whereby the boards of a floor can be easily and firmly clamped together while being nailed.

Another object is to provide a device of this character by means of which the floor boards can be properly operated upon close up to the baseboards.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fioor jack in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the accompany- .ing drawing 10 represents a block which is formed with a horizontal portion 11 and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 12. In the forward face of the horizontal portion there is formed a transverse groove 13 which is adapted to receive the tongue 14 of theboard 15. In the upper wall of i the groove, and centrally thereof there is formed a notch which is shown at 16, for the purpose of permitting the driving of a nail into the board at the point where the device is exerting its greatest force. Extending rearwardly from the upper face of the inclined portion 12 is a stem 17 the rear end of which is disposed through a longitudinal bore 18 formed in a member 19 which is pivotally supported in the bifurcation 20 of the lower end of the handle member or lever 21. In the rear end of the stem there is formed a circumferential groove 22 in which is received a pin 23 en gaged transversely through the member 19. This pin and groove serve to hold the stem within the member 19 while at the same time the said stem is free to rotate therein. The lower end of the lever 21 is formed with a biting member 24 which is arranged to be engaged in the joist of the floor when the grooved block is engaged with the board. Then upon pressing the lever forwardly, or in a direction toward the board, said board will be pressed tightly against the previously nailed board and can be thus held while a nail is driven thereinto.

When clamping the floor boards adjacent the baseboards of the room, the lever is swung outwardly away from the wall, so that a good grip can be obtained on the lever. This is the purpose of the rotating stem 17. Were the block rigidly connected to the member 19, the lever would be so close to the wall that a proper grip of the lever could not be obtained, and the firm clamping action of the device rendered ineflective.

What is claimed is:

A floor jack including a shank having the lower end formed with an elongated opening and a joist penetrating foot, a member pivotally mounted in the opening, a board engaging block, and a stem carried by the block and swiveled in said pivoted member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLEY J. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

WM. .I. PAsoHALL, WALTER A. Wns'r.

toptee at time patent may he obtained tor five eente each, by addressing the Commissioner of IlPatenta,

' Waehilne'ton, n. W 

